European Children's Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
European Children's Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
English Titles:
Original Titles:
German Titles:
Year of Production:
English title: Rafiki
Original title: Bestevenner
Norway, 2009
Director: Lo, Christian
Producer: Filmbin
Age recommendation: 10 years
Synopsis:
One day, Mette and Julie’s best friend Naisha runs away from the refugee centre where she lives. She and her mother have been told that their refugee application has been rejected, and that they will be sent back home. Mette and Julie decide they will find Naisha and her mother, and help them so they can stay in Norway. The problem is only that Julie’s dad is a policeman; that Julie and Mette are only nine years old, that Oslo is a long way from home, and that Christmas is approaching.
Mette and Julie embark on a dramatic journey. They find Naisha, but her mother is apprehended by the police, and the three girls have to manage on their own. With courage and ingenuity, they manage to enter a question time session in Parliament, and Julie creates hullabaloo when she poses a direct question about why Naisha is not allowed to stay in Norway. The girls are thrown out of the Parliament building. Naisha is sent to the police, and Mette and Julie return home and grieve the loss of their friend.
But at the end-of-term Christmas celebration at school, it turns out that Julie’s petition has been heard by the authorities anyway. Naisha and her mother are allowed to stay in Norway, and Christmas turns out to be a joyful season for the three best friends.
Festivals:
Berlin Generation 2010, BUFF Malmö 2010, Montreal 2010 (awarded), Kristiansand 2010, Giffoni 2010, Frankfurt 2010
Website: http://bestevenner.no
World sales address/es:
Filmbin (No)
Sold to:
Svensk FI (N)
European Children's Film Network - Addresses - ©ECFA 2010